Bailey's career night helps Tornado end skid

Injury-depleted and looking for answers following four straight losses, North Medford needed somebody to step up against Grants Pass on Tuesday night.

Injury-depleted and looking for answers following four straight losses, North Medford needed somebody to step up against Grants Pass on Tuesday night.

Oshea Bailey was up to the challenge.

Bailey hit 11 of 19 shots on his way to a career-high 31 points and Brian Bush finished the game with two clutch baskets as North Medford used a big fourth quarter to beat Grants Pass, 62-58, in a back-and-forth Southern Oregon Hybrid boys basketball tilt at North Medford High.

Bush scored all five of his points in the last 27 seconds, including a key 3-pointer with 24.5 seconds to go, as the Tornado earned its first win since Jan. 22 despite playing without big men Garrett Knox (sick) and Brandon DeBerry (knee).

"It was a huge game for us because we had lost four in a row and we were doing some soul-searching," North head coach Scott Plankenhorn said. "(Bailey) did everything. He drove it, he assisted, he made 3-pointers. He gave us the all-around game that we know he has."

Bailey also had six rebounds and two assists for the Tornado (13-8, 4-6 SOH), which outscored Grants Pass 43-28 in the second and fourth quarters combined. Tristen Holmes' 50-foot heave to close out the first half sent the game into the break tied at 34-all.

Julian Gray and Holmes added eight points apiece for North, which was 7-for-17 from 3-point range, including Bailey's 3-for-6 performance.

Grants Pass (6-14, 2-9), which has lost four in a row, was led by Micah Johnson's 22 points while Dylan Strempel added 17.

"We played smart basketball," Plankenhorn added, "and we started to fight at the defensive end with our smaller lineup."

Hults knocked down eight of his 10 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter as the Mustangs (5-18) — who picked up their first victory in three tries against Klamath Union (10-11) — used a 25-17 run to make up for a third period that saw them score just one point.

Alan Rojas had six points, four steals and four assists and JJ Flynn five points and eight rebounds for Hidden Valley, which next plays at North Valley on Friday.

The Mustangs played most of the game without leading scorer and rebounder Kody Garrison, who injured an ankle on the first play of the game.

SOUTH MEDFORD 84, CRATER 37 — At Central Point, South Medford's Ashley Bolston had 19 points, six steals and four assists and Andee Ritter went for 15 points, six steals and two blocks in Southern Oregon Hybrid action.

All nine members of the team scored for second-ranked South (18-4, 10-0 SOH), which led 22-8 after the first quarter in a game played at Scenic Middle School due to a broken water main at Crater High that forced the school's closure Monday and Tuesday.

Julissa Tago had 13 points and three steals, Luisa Tago 13 points and Kylie Towry 10 points and seven rebounds for the Panthers, who recorded 21 steals.

Yaremi Mejia chipped in seven points, six rebounds and five assists and Jasmin Falls five rebounds and three blocks.

Destiny Fahndrich paced Crater (6-15, 1-10) with eight points. Becca Heard added six points and four rebounds and Kes Noles five points and six rebounds.

NORTH MEDFORD 37, GRANTS PASS 31 — At Grants Pass, junior guard Joci Ellis scored a team-high 11 points and played a strong all-around game as North Medford won for the sixth time in its last seven games.

The victory moves the Black Tornado (14-6, 5-5 SOH) into a second-place tie with idle Roseburg.

Katie Williamson added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals and McKensey Peters chipped in nine points and 12 rebounds for North. Ellis added four blocks and three steals and Maryssa Becker had four points and seven rebounds.

Curly DeVos turned in 11 points and 18 rebounds for Hidden Valley, which entered the fourth quarter up 32-23 before Klamath Union outscored the squad 18-9 in the fourth. The Mustangs were held scoreless in overtime.

Morgan Hansen had 11 points and four assists and Monasha Goree eight points and 13 rebounds for Hidden Valley (2-18).